Injection molding tool with embedded induction heater

ABSTRACT

An injection molding tool includes a first mold die having a first tool face and a second mold die having a second tool face. The second mold die is configured to abut the first mold die, wherein the first tool face and second tool face are configured to partially define a part cavity between the first mold die and the second mold die. An induction heating element is embedded into the first mold die such that the induction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face. The induction heating element includes an electrical conductor, an electrically insulating material disposed about the conductor, and a ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electrical conductor and electrically insulating material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to injection molding tooling.

BACKGROUND

Many automotive components, such as fascias, body side moldings, sidepanels, etc., may be produced by an injection molding process followedby painting. In conventional part forming processes, a resin materialmay be injected into a part cavity formed by a plurality of mold dies.

Differences between the tool face temperature and the temperature of theresin may impact the quality of the part as well as the ability to keepthe material near the glass transition temperature to achieve a class“A” finish and gloss on the part. These temperature differences may alsoinduce internal stresses within the resin. If the resin does not hardenproperly, the molded part may require a separate finishing operation tocorrect any resulting cosmetic imperfections.

SUMMARY

An injection molding tool includes a first mold die having a first toolface and a second mold die having a second tool face. The second molddie is configured to abut the first mold die, wherein the first toolface and second tool face are configured to partially define a partcavity between the first mold die and the second mold die. An inductionheating element is embedded into the first mold die such that theinduction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face. Theinduction heating element may include an electrical conductor, anelectrically insulating material disposed about the conductor, and aferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electrical conductor andelectrically insulating material.

In one configuration, the ferromagnetic material of the inductionheating element may define a portion of the first tool face. Theinduction heating element may further include a bridge plate disposedbetween the electrically insulating material and the ferromagneticmaterial. Each of the first mold die and the second mold die maycomprise a non-ferromagnetic material, wherein the induction heatingelement is embedded into the non-ferromagnetic material of the firstmold die. At least one of the first mold die and the second mold die mayfurther define a resin inlet port in fluid communication with the partcavity.

The injection molding tool may further comprise an alternating currentwaveform generator in electrical communication with the electricalconductor. The alternating current waveform generator may be configuredto transmit an alternating current electrical signal through theelectrical conductor, wherein the alternating current electrical signalis configured to inductively heat the ferromagnetic material.

In one configuration, the induction heating element is a first inductionheating element; and the tool may further comprise a second inductionheating element embedded into the second mold die such that the secondinduction heating element defines a portion of the second tool face.

A method of embedding an induction heating element into a tool face ofan injection molding die may include depositing an electricallyconductive material on the injection molding die; depositing anelectrically insulating material on the injection molding die betweenthe electrically conductive material and the non-ferromagneticsubstrate; depositing a ferromagnetic material on the injection moldingdie adjacent to the electrically conductive material and theelectrically insulating material. In this manner, the ferromagneticmaterial may partially define the tool face of the injection moldingdie.

Additionally, the method may include machining a channel into the toolface of the injection molding die. Each of the electrically conductivematerial, electrically insulating material, and ferromagnetic materialmay be deposited within the machined channel, such as by using laserdeposition techniques.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best modes for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an injectionmolding tool with an induction heating element and displayed in an openconfiguration.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the injectionmolding tool of FIG. 1, displayed in a closed configuration.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an induction heating element disposedon a tool face.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an inductionheating element embedded into a tool face of an injection molding die,such as taken along line-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view the area designated“FIG. 5” in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an inductionheating element embedded into a tool face of an injection molding die,such as taken along line-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an inductionheating element embedded into a tool face of an injection molding die,such as taken along line-A of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used toidentify like or identical components in the various views, FIGS. 1 and2 schematically illustrate an injection molding tool 10 having a firstmold die 12 and a second mold die 14. As generally shown, the first molddie 12 may include a first tool face 16 and the second mold die 14 mayinclude a second tool face 18. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first andsecond mold dies 12, 14 may be coupled together such that the first andsecond tool faces 16, 18 at least partially define a part cavity 20between the respective first and second mold dies 12, 14.

As may be appreciated, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the injectionmolding tool 10 in an open configuration (i.e., where the first mold die12 and second mold die 14 are respectively separated), and FIG. 2schematically illustrates the injection molding tool 10 in a closedconfiguration (i.e., where the first mold die 12 and second mold die 14abut each other). It should be readily apparent that FIGS. 1 and 2 arelargely simplified and may omit other ancillary equipment that may berequired to completely form a part through an injection molding process.

In operation, the first mold die 12 and second mold die 14 may becoupled together, as generally shown in FIG. 2. The coupling may be madeunder force, such as using, for example, a hydraulic press (not shown).A resin material may be heated to a pre-defined temperature by a heater22, and may be injected into the part cavity 20 via one or more resininlet ports 26 (for example, by using an injector 24) to begin partformation. After a time period (which depends upon the part size andmaterial used to form the part), the tool 10 may be cooled by providinga cooling fluid (e.g., water) into one or more cooling ports 28. Aftercooling to a predetermined temperature, the first mold die 12 and secondmold die 14 of the tool 10 may be separated or opened (see, FIG. 1) andthe hardened part may be removed.

To prevent a portion of the heated liquid resin from coolingprematurely, as it enters the part cavity 20, one or more inductionheating elements 30, 32 may be embedded into the respective first and/orsecond mold dies 12, 14 to maintain the respective first and/or secondtool faces 16, 18 at a temperature near or above the glass transitiontemperature of the injected resin. In this manner, the tool 10 may notact as a heat sink to draw substantial amounts of heat from the resin,(i.e., the temperature gradient between the tool 10 and the resin willbe small).

As illustrated, the induction heating elements 30, 32 may define aportion of the respective first and second tool faces 16, 18. In thismanner, the tool face of the die may be locally heated withoutsubstantially heating the remainder of the die. As will be discussed ingreater detail below, such local heating may be accomplished byconstructing at least a portion of the tool face from a ferromagneticmaterial. An applied alternating electromagnetic flux may then directlyheat the tool face separate from the remainder of the die. This differssubstantially from a resistive heating element, which must be disposedbelow the hardened tool face, and would heat in all directions from theresistive element (i.e., the body of the die would absorb as much ormore thermal energy as the tool face). In a similar application, theinjection molding tool 10 (or a variant thereof), may be used in acompression molding process, such as with compression molding ofcomposites.

FIGS. 3-7 schematically illustrate various embodiments of an inductionheating element (generally at 30) that may be embedded into a first toolface 16. It should be appreciated that FIGS. 4-7 illustrate schematiccross-sectional views of a portion of a respective induction heatingelement 30, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 3, and generallyviewed along section “A”. The full heating element 30 may cover an area31 of the tool face 16, and may be specifically arranged in a mannerknown in the art of induction heating (e.g., in a coiled arrangement asillustrated in FIG. 3, or in one or more straight line sections), andmore specifically in a manner to accommodate the requirements of thetool shape, design, and/or size (for example, and without limitation,the heating element 30 may generally be disposed about sharp corners orthin flats to ensure proper fluidic resin flow into the full partcavity).

Referring to FIG. 4, the induction heating element 30 may include anelectrical conductor 32, an electrically insulating material 34 disposedabout the conductor 32, and a ferromagnetic material 36 disposedadjacent to the electrical conductor 32 and electrically insulatingmaterial 34. As may be appreciated, FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality ofloops 40 of a coiled induction heating element 30. Each loop 40 may besimilarly arranged, and may be coupled with each other loop 40 in space,such as generally illustrated in FIG. 3 (e.g., through a spiralarrangement).

As generally illustrated, the ferromagnetic material 36 of the inductionheating element 30 may partially define the first tool face 16. In thismanner, when a high frequency alternating current waveform is providedto the conductor 32, the ferromagnetic material 36 portion of the toolface 16 may experience an inductive heating effect, which may cause acorresponding temperature increase of the tool face 16. In anembodiment, the ferromagnetic material 36 may be, for example, toolsteel. In an embodiment, the ferromagnetic material 36 may comprisesteel grades such as P4 (5% Chromium), P5 (2.25% Chromium), or P20 (1.7%Chromium). In a more general sense, the ferromagnetic material 36 may beany material that exhibits a ferromagnetic effect. To ensure thatinduction heating effect is locally concentrated at the tool face 16,the remaining substrate 50 of the mold die 12 may comprise anon-ferromagnetic material (i.e., a material that is generallyimpervious to magnetism). Furthermore, a non-ferromagnetic bridge plate52 may be disposed between the electrically insulating material 34 andthe ferromagnetic material 36.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the injection molding tool may furtherinclude an alternating current waveform generator 60 in electricalcommunication with the induction heating element, and configured totransmit an alternating current electrical signal through the electricalconductor 32. In one configuration, the electrical signal supplied bythe alternating current waveform generator 60 may have a frequency ofbetween 1 kHz and 10 kHz. Other frequencies, however, may be useddepending on the specific application.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the area designated “FIG. 5” inFIG. 4. As illustrated, the induction heating element 30 may be embeddedinto the tool face 16 by a total depth 70. In one configuration, thetotal depth 70 may be approximately less than one inch (<25.4 mm), withthe thickness 72 of the ferromagnetic material 36 being approximatelybetween ⅛ inch and ¼ inch (approximately between 3 mm and 7 mm). Itshould be appreciated that other configurations/depths/thicknesses maybe similarly used depending on the particular application.

Referring again to FIG. 4, in one configuration, the ferromagneticmaterial 36 may be locally disposed proximate to each loop 40 of theconductor 32. In this manner, there may be non-ferromagnetic substratematerial 50 separating the plurality of loops of ferromagnetic material36. In another configuration, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 6, asingle plate 80 or lining of ferromagnetic material may be disposedabove each of the plurality of loops 40 of the conductor 32 across theentire area 31. Furthermore, depending on the particular application andpart/tool design, the ferromagnetic properties and/or materialcomposition of the ferromagnetic plate 80 may be varied across the areaof the plate to more precisely control the inductive heating profile(i.e., more ferromagnetic material may yield greater inductive heatingeffects).

To embed the induction heating element 30 into the tool face 16, in oneconfiguration, a channel may first be machined into a tool face 16 of amold die to a total depth 70. Each of the electrical conductor 32, theelectrically insulating material 34, and the ferromagnetic material 36may then be deposited within the machined channel in an arrangement asgenerally illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. The depositing may include, forexample, laser deposition techniques, where a powder of the respectivematerial may be fused to the substrate using laser energy. Otherdepositing techniques may include three-dimensional printing,closed-loop direct metal deposition, electron beam sputtering, selectivelaser sintering, fused deposition modeling, or any other additivemanufacturing process known in the art.

In another configuration, as generally illustrated in FIG. 7, a channel90 may initially be machined into the substrate 50. Following themachining, an insulated wire 92, comprising an electrical conductor 94,and an electrically insulating material 96 disposed about the conductor94, may be inlaid into the channel 90. The bridge plate 52 may then beinlaid into the channel 90, adjacent the wire 92. The bridge plate 52may be stitch welded to the substrate 50 to ensure that it is securelyheld in place. Following the installation of the bridge plate 52, theferromagnetic material 36 may be deposited onto the bridge plate 52,such as using laser deposition techniques. A suitable finishing processmay then be used to ensure that the tool face 16 has a suitable surfacefinish.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been describedin detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relateswill recognize various alternative designs and embodiments forpracticing the invention within the scope of the appended claims. It isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot as limiting.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An injection molding tool comprising: afirst mold die having a first tool face; a second mold die having asecond tool face and configured to abut the first mold die, the firsttool face and second tool face configured to partially define a partcavity between the first mold die and the second mold die; and aninduction heating element embedded into the first mold die such that theinduction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face, theinduction heating element including: an electrical conductor; anelectrically insulating material disposed about the conductor; and aferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electrical conductor andthe electrically insulating material.
 2. The injection molding tool ofclaim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material of the induction heatingelement defines a portion of the first tool face.
 3. The injectionmolding tool of claim 1, wherein the induction heating element furtherincludes a bridge plate disposed between the electrically insulatingmaterial and the ferromagnetic material.
 4. The injection molding toolof claim 1, wherein each of the first mold die and the second mold diecomprise a non-ferromagnetic material, the induction heating elementbeing embedded into the non-ferromagnetic material of the first molddie.
 5. The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein the temperatureof the ferromagnetic material is configured to increase throughinductive heating when an alternating current waveform is provided tothe electrical conductor.
 6. The injection molding tool of claim 1,further comprising an alternating current waveform generator inelectrical communication with the electrical conductor and configured totransmit an alternating current electrical signal through the electricalconductor, and wherein the alternating current electrical signal isconfigured to inductively heat the ferromagnetic material.
 7. Theinjection molding tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the firstmold die and the second mold die define a resin inlet port in fluidcommunication with the part cavity.
 8. The injection molding tool ofclaim 7, further comprising an injector in fluid communication with theresin inlet port.
 9. The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein theinduction heating element is a first induction heating element; andfurther comprising a second induction heating element embedded into thesecond mold die such that the second induction heating element defines aportion of the second tool face.
 10. The injection molding tool of claim1, wherein the electrical conductor and the electrically insulatingmaterial disposed about the conductor comprise a wire.
 11. An injectionmolding tool comprising: a first mold die having a first tool face; asecond mold die having a second tool face and configured to abut thefirst mold die, the first tool face and second tool face configured topartially define a part cavity between the first mold die and the secondmold die; and an induction heating element embedded into the first molddie such that the induction heating element defines a portion of thefirst tool face, the induction heating element including: an electricalconductor; an electrically insulating material disposed about theconductor; a ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electricalconductor and the electrically insulating material, and defining aportion of the first tool face; and wherein each of the first mold dieand the second mold die are formed from a non-ferromagnetic material,the induction heating element being embedded into the non-ferromagneticmaterial of the first mold die.
 12. The injection molding tool of claim11, wherein the induction heating element further includes a bridgeplate disposed between the electrically insulating material and theferromagnetic material.
 13. The injection molding tool of claim 11,wherein the temperature of the ferromagnetic material is configured toincrease through inductive heating when an alternating current waveformis provided to the electrical conductor.
 14. The injection molding toolof claim 11, further comprising an alternating current waveformgenerator in electrical communication with the electrical conductor andconfigured to transmit an alternating current electrical signal throughthe electrical conductor, and wherein the alternating current electricalsignal is configured to inductively heat the ferromagnetic material. 15.The injection molding tool of claim 11, wherein at least one of thefirst mold die and the second mold die define a resin inlet port influid communication with the part cavity.
 16. The injection molding toolof claim 11, wherein the induction heating element is a first inductionheating element; and further comprising a second induction heatingelement embedded into the second mold die such that the second inductionheating element defines a portion of the second tool face.